Year: 2017

Embracing the woman I am today

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“The most rewarding things you do in life are often the ones that look like they cannot be done.” – Arnold Jean Palmer I stepped in the building of my first corporate job at  the age of 19 yrs, surrounded with career woman looking gorgeous and powerful in suits. I wanted to be just like them. Why? Because I saw how lost my Mama was when she became a widow with three kids and living with her in laws. Growing up, my mom did not have much authority on us because she had to rely on relatives help to financially get by. She worked so hard to finally be on her own and even manage to buy us our own house with her salary as a government employee. I want to be the woman who does not rely on anyone to pay her meals, travel or go out and have fun night on her own.  When friends and I discuss family life, I stand strong to my ideal life of still having a career of my own and not depend …

Freshly Foods Chicken Shawarma Lettuce Wrap

Freshly Foods – My Emergency Food Stash

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Do you have those days where you just don’t have any idea on what to feed your family? I have plenty. I try my best to plan our weekly menu but sometimes life as a stay-at-home mom gets in the way. Why? I wear several hats – a chef, blogger, main cleaner, teacher (my eldest it seems have exams every week), playmate and referee…are just a few hats I wear. It is overwhelming. As much as I want to prepare fresh cooked food every meal time for my bunch (kids + husband), I sometimes just don’t have the energy (and time) to do it.  So I rely on store bought frozen food a few times a week (specially for lunch box) to get by. Choosing the right one is quite a bit of a challenge because I have to make sure that it is not made of junk and that my kids will eat it. While shopping at Lulu Hypermarket we chanced upon the tasting booth of Freshly Foods  a company that prides itself for producing premium and MDM free food products. My kids loved everything at …

Thank you board

Birthday Blog Hop with Pretty Paper Studio: Gratitude Project

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Pretty Paper Studio turned FIVE this month and we are celebrating via a Blog Hop with some of the best bloggers in town!     To celebrate Pretty Paper Studio’s birthday we were asked to make something around the theme “GRATEFUL” which I think is perfect because along with every celebration one must also always remember to give thanks. A lot of ideas flooded my mind when I opened my box of goodies from PPS – a photo binder, a scrapbook, a framed collage and a lot more. To make something with one instruction that is to “be creative” scares me A LOT, I honestly wanted to send the box back to Neelu. Then… LittleMiss C opened the box and exclaimed “Oh mommy! So many pretty things, I want to make something with you.” So we did. I am a visual person, for a project to be effective and memorable it has to be something that I (family) can use and see every day. Last Christmas, I made “Count your blessings” sticks where we get to pick a random popsicle stick and answer questions like “How …

Recipe for Spaghetti and Meatballs

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Kuya V spent an afternoon at a professional teaching kitchen of The Chef’s Palette by Gaggenau  in Fairmont The Palm where he learned how to make Spaghetti & Meatballs under the fun supervision of Executive Chef Kyle Grant.   Watch the fun afternoon we spent getting messy to cook something yummy. Chef Kyle shared his recipe for meatballs and tomato sauce below. Details of the class below. FEED YOUR LITTLE ONES IMAGINATION WITH OUR CULINARY CLASSES • Enroll your little ones in our famous Kids Culinary Classes via palm.dining@fairmont.com or +971 4 457 3457 • 9 weeks course starts on April 30 and ends on June 25, 2017 • Classes take place every Sunday from 4:00pm – 6:00pm • Other days are optional too, if a minimum of 8 kids register Disclaimer: Kuya V was invited to attend the preview of the Kids Culinary Class. It was a really fun event and we wanted to share it with you all. 

Burj Khalifa Souvenir Photo

A visit At The Top of Burj Khalifa

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One of the things tourist look forward too when they arrive in Dubai is to see the tallest building in the world (2017) which is the Burj Khalifa. As expected when my Mama and Auntie Bing came to visit us this was one tourist request that was non negotiable. A second visit for the kids and I, we first went to the top last 2012 with my relatives from Australia. LittleMiss C was still 3 months old, she was just happy sleeping. We bought tickets online at burjkhalifa.ae and chose At the Top + Dubai Aquarium promotion that costs AED 185 per adult (12years +) and AED 155 per child (3 – 12 years) as of February 2017. The journey to the 124th floor of Burj Khalifa begins at At The Top reception located at the Lower Ground Level of Dubai Mall. We arrived 30 minutes before our scheduled time which was 8pm since a long queue is always expected. Arriving before your scheduled time will give you enough time to read all the information available; a series of photo on its construction with descriptions stating why …

De'Longhi MultiFry Cooking Demo

Cooking Demo with De’Longhi MultiFry

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An invitation for me to host a cooking demo came as a surprise, I coordinating a Mother’s Day event for the #UAEMomBloggers when suddenly the question if I would be available to host the event came. I said YES without hesitation thinking that I will be standing in front of people I know (well mostly just online) and have had a chance to talk too. I did a demo with my kids as audience at home and prepared two recipes I was going to present that day a few times.  My kids were tough critics to please! One thing I know for sure is that I have been using the MultiFry for the past two years now and it is one of my favorite kitchen gadget. Daniela from Twister Communications ME assured me that I have nothing to worry about, the whole team from De’Longhi and Jashanmal Home will be there to assist me should I need it. I arrived early to familiarize myself with the place and talk to the Jashanmal & De’Longhi team. Every thing that I …

DUKESY Beach Brunch at West 14th

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We found ourselves driving to the Palm for a brunch last week, our invitation came with a promise of a lazy river, tons of kids activities and beach access. While good food is an essential part of brunching, the question if my two kids will have fun tops the list. FUN is an understatement of how my kids describe the DUKESY Family Brunch. I asked Kuya V and Chloe to tell me why this could be the best family brunch in the UAE… Water Fun Both the beach and pool was just a few steps away from the restaurant area, which is awesome according to Kuya V because he can just easily go back and grab some food. Guests are welcome to enjoy the beach and pool from 10am – 6pm. It is included on the brunch deal. Beach towels are available for all guests to borrow, free of charge. Lazy River LittleMiss Chloe (5yrs old) was tall enough to walk around the lazy river pool. Three lifeguards were on watch to make sure every one was safe. Swim rings both …

#LetsMakeLunchFun for our Family

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I have been using the hashtag #LetsMakeLunchFun on Instagram for a while now, with an aim to challenge myself and inspire others to prepare healthy fun lunch box food for our kids.  Last September 2016, I invited my IG followers to use the hashtag and join me in my little campaign. The challenge to pack a healthier school food began when my son asked me to pack extra food for his friends. To make things clear, all his friends bring packed lunch in school but it consist mostly of sandwich, cupcakes or cookies and a juice box. Absolutely nothing wrong with the food they have but I think what makes our packed lunch different is the way it is prepared. #LetsMakeLunchFun is not limited to lunch box packing, it can be any meal – breakfast, snack or dinner. Remember that our goal is to make our family eat healthier, one meal at a time. If you have eventually managed to make your child eat a food they usually avoid is a big achievement. “I like that you have a lot of food to choose from.” My kids are good eater …